Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-07-29
THE DEACON'S DINNER.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

ouch Il pAOub man a0 tiAV NSHi 1S"-~O@
is!' added Mrs. Hopkins, whose better
half had once been sea captain and who
was still pit to be profane by fits and
starts, when the cattle got into the clover
field and the midnight weasel marauded
on his hen coops and turkey roosts.
with store carpet on the best room
floor" put III Mrs. Jones, land Il weekly
newspaper, aud white sugar in her tea
every day of her life, and a horse and
wagon 10 tp6e her TO meetin' Sundays"
Such was the opinion of society as re-
presented In Glen Hollow. Perhaps
Mrs. Deacon Smart was happy woman.
But We are told on the best authority,
that.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness"
Mrs. Smart was washing up her best
China, one morning, preparatory to Civ
ing grand tea party, and her cousin,
Ella Dale, was helping her, when the
Deacon put his shining bald head in at
tho door.
My DEAR" he said here is a paper of
pins tor You"
Mrs. Smart nearly dropped giItedged
saucer, in her CONSERVATION.
Moro pins" said she.
yes, my dear" said the Deacon, un.
ctuouslg. "PIus are always useful"
ooh, yes, pins' said Mrs. Smart, Civ
my her glass towel toss as she wiped
the last glObule of moisture from the
goblet. But no rows of rusty wire! | do
say for it Ebonozar -"
I'm going TO Glen Depot, my DEAR
the Deacon somewhat hurriedIy inter
rupted, mt this juncture; land perhaps |
shan't be home till one o'clock"
lie withdrew, and Mrs. Smart turned to
Ella Dale with half laugh.
There, my dear" said she, throwing
down the faded green roll of pinpaper on
the dresser" There you behold the
secret of my domestic unhappines5 the
skeleton in my closeti"
Ella opened her round, hazel eyes very
wide.
'''I can't think what you mean. Julian
ma" she snid. "You unhappy and
the dear Deacon such truly good Inany"
That's the trouble said Mrs. Smart
che Is too good
But don't hardly see how that car DO
possible" protested Ella, more perplexed
than ever.
And it's all at my expense" said Mrs
Smart, dolefully. do you see that paper
of pins?"
why, of course, l see it, replied
Ella.
"WoI, MIR. Smart has bought paper of
pins of Il peddler at the door, said Mrs
Smart. up, ddlers always come here.
This house is n Mecca to the race of
peddlers. They know that MIR. Smart
nlwnys buys of them-ho's too good
hearted to say no; or rather let us speak
the truth, and SHINE him who shall be
nameless between Us he is really
IN. u a -.
tiles
Ella burst out laughing.
Bat what very insignificant trialn'
she said
"0h yes, dare say" said Mrs. Smart
The sting of hornet isn't so very terrible
in itself, but when swarm i. let loose on
you, what thenW
"A whole swarm" repeated innocent
Ella
My denr." said Mrs. Smart, lowering
her yoioe to n confidential whisper, up
stairs in my bed room closet | have Is
papers of just such cheap pins, utterly
useless for anything but to bend them
solves up double when you try to put
them through single thickness of calico
and To deprive you of your temper just
when you need IT rnost, ak cards of por-
celain buttons an article which never
use, nlno packages Of stove backing,
thirteen bottlrs of machine oil, five
papers of rusty needles, dozen pairs of
shoe strings, and eight rolls OF tape,
which Is an insult to ones common sense,
1t could reconcile it to my conscience,
Id fling the whole collection into the fire,
but was brought up to economizc.
What do you think, Ella, would II be a sin
to uulhIlato all these pitfalls 10 my
equaulmityF'
1t is rather n hard problem" said Ella
soh4rly.
and with all this" said Mrs. Smart,
waxing Vehement rs she went on.
Ebene2er il unwilling to give ms money
To buy decent darulng needles and re
spectacle tauC. He wonders why l cant
make my dresses last little longer, and
thinks | am extravngaut in wanting
new feather for my old velvet bonnet.
He says that use too many raisins and
spices, and asks me why | can't raise
poultry and have eggs To exchange for
groceries nj the yilase store. And yet
oh, tho Inconsistency OF men-he ex
poets me to give bowl of coffee and
sandwich, to say nothing Of wedges of
apple pie, and three-cornered bits of
cake, 10 every able. bodied tramp and
stout prddler woman who happens to
come along"
Doesn't he make any allowance for it
in the housekeeping money! asked Ella.
Not he. just look here" Mrs Smart
opened the drawer of the kitchen table.
This Is where l keep the house keeping
money-which he gives me every week
and he cau<e here twice this morning
once to get quarter for lame beggar
and again to get ten pennies for that
same outrageous paper of pins"
And she cast a baleful blance at the
article, which still lay on the dresser.
This is piracy, said Ella, iudicially.
ITS highway robbery declared Mrs
Smart And there comes the butchers
cart, aud haven't money enough left
from my weeks allowance to buy a single
steak, and here it is only Wednesday,"
Cast you buy on credit"
Never" said Mrs. Smart, with spirit
Its thing never have done, and l
never will do"
Elias hazel eyes spRrkled, as she shook
her head vehemently at the butcher, who
was just checking his old horses Al the
door.
Nothing TO day" she said.
Mrs. Smart dashed away q tear.
Give me some of that shelled corn.
Ella" she said. II suppose l can catch
a chicken for dinner"
DO nothing of the sort, my dear" said
Ella.
But what are we to do?"
why, have pickedup dinner"
answered Ella. You just leave me to
manage it for you"
But I'm afraid the Dsacon won't like |
it." said Mrs. Smart.
well, and if he doesn'ts You don't /
like the peddler business, do you!n quick |
ly retorted Ella.
At O'Clock the table was all spread 1
with three huge central platters care
fully shielded with the coverings which |
were ordinarily brought out only on |
state occasions, and Mrs. Smart and Ella I
were peepipg out OF the window, and /
wondering what kept the Deacon so late. |
"Tnere he comes now" said Mrs. Smart. 1
Good gracious, me! And there is Willis |
Mildmay coming home with him. We I
never counted on his bringing company /
TO dinner, Ella
sWhat signifies company" asked |
Ella, stoutly mainte'1ing her composure, !
although her pretty face turned pink all /
over, like June rose. willis Mildmsy /
won't care when he comprehends it all. |
Willis is a sensible man."
"Come in, Mr. Smart-come in, Mr.. |
Mildmay,r said Mrs. Smart. you're half |
and hour late, Ebenezer. Ella and | /
could not imagine what had become of |